Fateh Review- An Action-Fueled, Blood-Soaked Story Lacking Emotion & Depth

By Shantiswarup Tripathi

Film: Fateh
Producer: Sonal Sood, G Studios, Shakti Sagar Productions
Writers: Sonu Sood, Ankur Pajni
Director: Sonu Sood
Cast: Sonu Sood, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nasiruddin Shah, Vijay Raaz, Divyendu Bhattacharya, Prakash Belawadi, Shiv Jyoti Rajput, Suraj Jumaan
Runtime: 2 hours 10 minutes
Rating: 1 star

After almost three years, Sonu Sood is back, not just as an actor but also as a writer, director, and producer with his film Fateh. The film is a mix of several films and feels more like a video game that children might enjoy playing, though audiences should be cautious, as the Central Board of Film Certification has awarded it an "A" rating. Released on January 10, 2025, with a runtime of 2 hours and 10 minutes, Fateh is not for the faint-hearted.

Story

The film follows Fateh Singh (Sonu Sood), a former special operations officer who now lives a peaceful life running a dairy farm in Punjab’s Monga village. However, his past is dark and filled with secrets. His neighbor, Nimrit Kaur (Shiv Jyoti Rajput), works at a loan app company but becomes a victim of a dangerous cybercrime syndicate. Fateh travels to Delhi in search of Nimrit and joins forces with an ethical hacker, Khushi Sharma (Jacqueline Fernandez), to uncover a nationwide scam and fight for justice using their combined skills.

Review

If you're a fan of action and bloodshed, Fateh might appeal to you. However, be warned that if you suffer from headaches, this film won’t offer any relief. With an incredibly weak script, Fateh lacks a coherent plot. While it attempts to raise awareness about cybercrime and instill fear among the common people, especially those in rural areas, the film fails to delve into any meaningful discussion on the issue. Sonu Sood’s film is set in a village in Punjab, but he seems to be unaware that urban residents are more susceptible to cybercrime. Fateh feels like a hastily assembled mishmash of films that have already been done better elsewhere. From Salman Khan’s Jai Ho to Shahrukh Khan’s Pathaan, the film copies several iconic moments and themes without offering anything new or substantial. For instance, Fateh Singh’s character, much like the protagonist in Jai Ho, anonymously helps a poor man by paying his children’s school fees. Similarly, Nasiruddin Shah’s character echoes John Abraham’s role from Pathaan—both were once part of elite agencies, and when betrayed, they turn against their own country.

Sonu Sood wears multiple hats in this film—actor, writer, director, and producer—and unfortunately, his focus seems to have been solely on creating high-octane action sequences and keeping himself in the spotlight. But in doing so, he neglected the very heart of filmmaking—story, emotion, and human connection. The characters are underdeveloped, and the violence seems mechanical. There’s no depth to the action and no emotional weight to the countless lives lost during the confrontations. Injured characters don’t even show pain—everything seems robotic. The screenplay is so poorly constructed that by the end of the film, you still won’t know where Nasiruddin Shah’s character is located or what happens to the girl, Nimrit Kaur, whom Fateh sets out to save. As both the writer and director, Sonu Sood falls short of making an impact.

Acting

Sonu Sood’s portrayal of Fateh Singh is passable, but one can’t help but feel that a different director might have brought out a better performance from him. There are moments where his expressions appear completely blank and emotionless. Jacqueline Fernandez, unfortunately, doesn’t have much to do in her role, as acting seems to be beyond her capabilities—she’s mostly relied upon for her looks. Shiv Jyoti Rajput, in a smaller role, does leave an impression with her acting. The talented ensemble cast, including Divyendu Bhattacharya, Vijay Raaz, and Nasiruddin Shah, are utterly wasted. One wonders what led them to accept roles in a film like this—perhaps just a way to honor a commitment or earn some quick money.

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